7 replies to this topic

[Kodie]

Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction Monday to stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that he said destroys embryos, ruling it went against the will of Congress.

Lamberth's ruling said all embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, which violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment included in federal spending bills.
"The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed," Lamberth's ruling said. "It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment."

The Justice Department was reviewing the decision, spokesperson Tracy Schmaler said.

The field of embryonic stem cells has been highly controversial because the research process involves destroying the embryo, typically four or five days old, after removing stem cells. These cells are then blank and can become any cell in the body.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order in March 2009 that repealed a Bush-era policy limiting federal dollars for human stem cell research. Obama's act permitted the National Institutes of Health to conduct and fund studies on embryonic stem cells.

Some scientists believe embryonic stem cells could help treat many diseases and disabilities, because of their potential to develop into many different cell types in the body.

While some advocates praised the executive order as a giant step forward for medical research, conservatives groups objected, contending that the destruction of human embryos ends human life.

Lamberth was nominated to the federal bench by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

[rkzenrage]

If they don't want stem cells they shouldn't buy them, other than that they need to shut the hell up.

[greybeard]

rkzenrage, on 23 August 2010 - 11:23 PM, said:

If they don't want stem cells they shouldn't buy them, other than that they need to shut the hell up.

That sound eminently sensible. Do you think anyone will listen?

[4wheelz]

and the power of Reagan still affects us all. damn.

Edited by 4wheelz, 25 August 2010 - 05:33 AM.

[jscott92064]

A significant amount of stem cell research will go forward thanks to private funding and the state of California's ambitious stem-cell initiative, which isn't affected by Judge Lamberth's ruling. The California group spends $250 million annually on stem cell research, with 30-40% of the money directed to embroynic stem-cell research. California may be the only safe haven now, at least temporarily, for human stem cell research,".....Wall Street Journal - August 24, 2010.


Glad I live in CA. This gives me some hope.

[4wheelz]

Spain and Israel both do stem cell research too.

[Tetracyclone]

It seems the economic benefits of stem cell research will all fall outside the USA. Nail in coffin?

[pistol_pete]

Kodie, on 23 August 2010 - 11:21 PM, said:

Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction Monday to stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that he said destroys embryos, ruling it went against the will of Congress.

Lamberth's ruling said all embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, which violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment included in federal spending bills.
"The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed," Lamberth's ruling said. "It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment."

The Justice Department was reviewing the decision, spokesperson Tracy Schmaler said.

The field of embryonic stem cells has been highly controversial because the research process involves destroying the embryo, typically four or five days old, after removing stem cells. These cells are then blank and can become any cell in the body.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order in March 2009 that repealed a Bush-era policy limiting federal dollars for human stem cell research. Obama's act permitted the National Institutes of Health to conduct and fund studies on embryonic stem cells.

Some scientists believe embryonic stem cells could help treat many diseases and disabilities, because of their potential to develop into many different cell types in the body.

While some advocates praised the executive order as a giant step forward for medical research, conservatives groups objected, contending that the destruction of human embryos ends human life.

Lamberth was nominated to the federal bench by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

What a big meanie!

I hope the head of his gavel comes spinning off and hits him on the head.